Seems as though Texas Judge Sam Sparks believes there is a world of difference between social networking sites such as MySpace and a daycare center
Judge Sparks yesterday dismissed a lawsuit filed in behalf of a Julie Doe who was lured into a sexual encounter by a 19-year-old when she was only 13.
“If anyone had a duty to protect Julie Doe, it was her parents, not MySpace,” he wrote.
As you may recall, the Houston attorney representing Doe argued otherwise last month in filing yet another in a long string of these ludicrous lawsuits that attempt to lay the blame for teenage misjudgments, bad parenting and outright criminal behavior at the feet of deep-pocketed online entities. In that suit, filed in Los Angeles, Attorney Jason Itkin offered that MySpace and such sites hold the same responsibilities as a daycare center or restaurant, writing:
“These virtual sites are no different. MySpace has not taken the steps necessary to protect its customers.”
Here’s hoping the California judge shows as much common sense as Judge Sparks and sends Itkin packing.
